Dredging-machine.



W. R. EWING.

DREDGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men 050.10. 1915.

Patented Oct. 3,1916.

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s'rns ATE WILLIARD R. EWING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DREDGING-MACHINE.

' Application filed December 10, 1915.

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DredgingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dredges, particularly useful for digging ditches, trenches, channels or other excavations.

In dredge machines of this class propulsion is quite a serious problem, the machines being required to travel over all sorts and The propulsion mechanisms of the prior art are very cumbersome, heavy, and more or less impractical, and require special materials for their construction. Furthermore, their operation requires considerable power and such prior dredging machines are therefore more or less inefficient. 1

One of the important objects of my invention is to provide improved and simplified propulsion means which will effect efiici'ent propulsion with the exercise of minimum force.

Another object is to provide propulsion means which can be constructed of ordinary lumber or ordinary structural iron parts.

Another important object of the invention is to incorporate such propulsion mechanism in a unitary structure which is selfsupportmg on the ground and 1s controlled from the dredge mechanism supporting frame.

Another object is to eliminate waste and useless movement of the propulsion producing mechanism to thereby effect saving in power and time.

The above particularly pointed out features of the invention and other features are embodied in the construction illustrated on the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational View of my improved dredging ma chine with the lifting shoe and part of the dredge frame in vertical section, the front end of the'frame being shown raised by the shoe, Fig. 2 is a view of the rear end of the machine, Fig.3 is-a sectional view on plane 33, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a side elevational view with the rear part of the dredge frame in vertical section and show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Serial No. 66,048.

Describing the construction and arrangement of the machine, the dredge frame has the floor structure 7 built up of cross beams 10 and top boards 11, the floor structure being supported by vertical side beams 12 and 13 which rest at their lower ends on runners 14 and 15 turned upwardly at their ends as indicated. Diagonal side beams 16 and 17 extend from the ends of the floor beams 10 to the runner tops and are closed engaging the ground, the runners being turned up at their ends to facilitate progress over the ground in either direction. The frame is thus very simple'yet extremely rigid and requires no special material but can be built up of ordinary lumber or of ordinary structural iron beams and parts.

Mounted at the forward end of the dredge frame is ordinary digging or excavating mechanism D shown here as comprising a turn-table 20 supporting the mast 21 and boom 22, the dipper beam being mounted on the boom in the ordinary manner and supporting the dipper or bucket 24, the turn-table and bucket mechanism being swung'around and operated in the ordinary manner to dig in advance of the dredge and to deposit the diggings alongside of the formed ditch.

The lifting shoe structure S has a body of sledge structure comprising the runner bottom 25 from which extend the sides 26 and 27. Adjacent the bottom 25 of the shoe and journaled'in the side walls thereof are the front and rear transverse pivot shafts 28 and 29 which shafts pivot the lower ends of jack lever structures 30 and 31. A plat-- form structure 19 is pivoted to the upper ends of the jack lever structures, shafts 32 and 33 receiving the upper ends of the lever structures being journaled in the sides 34 and 35 of the platform, these sides being held spaced by front and rear floor sections 36 and 37. Mounted at the sides of the front floor section 36 are'bearing-frames 38 and 39 which journal track rollers or wheels 40 and 41 respectively, while the rear floor section 37 supports at its sides the bearing frames 42 and 43 which journal the track wheels 44 and 45. The shoe structure is with n the d edge f ame and re t on the ground and secured to the under side of the floor beams 10 of the dredge frames are rails 46 and 47 which are adapted to receive the track wheels and 44, and 41 and respectively, when the platform 79 is raised. Normally the platform 1) rests on the top of the body of the shoe structure S with the track wheels away from the rails. However, when the lever structures 30 and 31 are swung upwardly toward vertical position the platform will be elevated and the track wheels will be brought against the respective rails so that during the latter part of the movement of the levers toward vertical position a powerful upward thrust will be caused by the platform against the dredge frame and a great part of the direct weight of the dredge frame will be taken from the ground and transferred to the shoe. In other words, the greater part of the friction of the dredging frame with the ground will be relieved so that the dredge frame can with very little power be shifted longitudinally along the track rollers. The shoe structure is of simple design and can therefore be built up of ordinary lumber or structural iron work and its weight is such that its friction on the ground will be sufficient to anchor it against longitudinal movement while the jack levers are being swung upwardly to carry the platform to take on the weight of the dredge frame.

Describing now the mechanism for raising the platform and for shifting the dredge frame after the platform has raised it, I preferably provide winch mechanism W and cable sections 48 and 49. The winch mechanism may be of any well known construction and is shown mounted on top of the dredge frame, the cable section 48 extending from the winch around a pulley 50 at the rear end of the frame and anchored at its end to the front floor section 36 of the shoe structure platform 7?. The cable section 49 extends from the winch around the pulley 51 at the front end of the dredge frame and is anchored to the rear floor section 37 of the platform. In Fig. 1 the dotted lines show the platform p resting in normal position on the shoe structure body, the dredge runners resting on the ground. The shoe structure is under the front end of the dredge frame in position to effect forward propulsion of the frame. If it is now desired to shift the frame forwardly after a digging period with the bucket mechanism, the drum of the winch mechanism W is rotated in counter clockwise direction to exert tension on the cable 48 and rearward pull on the platform. Such pull will swing the lever structures 30 and 31 to raise the platform to bring the track wheels against the rails and in this position of the platform the jack levers are close to vertical so that further "swing thereof will cause a powerful upward thrust against the rails with comparatively small pull on the cable, and the front end of the dredge frame will be raised. As before stated the shoe structure has sufficient weight to hold the ground while the jack levers are being raised toward vertical, and then on account of the powerful upward thrust by the wheels against the rail as the levers are swung closer to the vertical the weight of the dredge frame taken on by the shoe structure will immediately increase its frictional engagement with the ground and the shoe structure will be firmly anchored against any longitudinal movement during the remainder of the lifting operation on the dredge frame. WVhen the dredge frame is thus lifted at its forward end only its rear end rests on the ground but the extent of contact is so small and the friction so little that comparatively very little effort will be required to shift the entire dredge frame forwardly. Forward propulsion effort is provided for in the cable 48 which passes around the pulley 50 at the rear end of the dredge frame, for when tension is applied to this cable to pull rearwardly on the platform there will also be a forward propulsion effort against the dredge frame. However, when the platform is first being raised against the dredge frame the frictional engagement of this frame with the ground will be greater than the forward propulsion effort by the cable against the frame and there will be no forward movement, but as soon as the platform has been raised high enough to reduce the ground friction sufficiently the forward propulsion force will cause the dredge frame to roll forwardly over the platform wheels. After the friction of rest has been overcome by the starting of the dredge frame its forward propulsion will be easier, and such propulsion will continue so long as the cable 48 is kept tense. As soon as the cable slacks the forwardly in clined lever structures 30 and 31 will be swung downwardly due to the weight thereon of the dredge frame and the dredge frame will come back to the ground. The platform is then again raised and further propulsion of the dredge frame effected. Before the dredge frame travels forwardly sufficiently to bring its center of gravity beyond the shoe the shoe is returned to the forward end of the dredge frame by re versal of the winch and pull on cable 49.

Ordinarily the weight of the dredge frame on the ground will resist rearward movement thereof while the dredge mechanism Dis being operated. However, it is preferable to provide a brake structure 58 pivoted to the rear end of the dredge frame on a shaft 54 and controlled by a cable 55 connected therewith and passing over pulley 56 and. aro nd a drum 57. When this brake frame is down its pointed ends will anchor firmly in the ground should there be any tendency to rearward movement of the dredge frame during digging operations. The brake frame is also active in preventing rearward movement of the dredge frame while the front end thereof is raised on the shoe structure.

At times it is necessary to move the dredge rearwardly and the shoe structure must therefore be shifted to be at the rear end of the dredge frame. To accomplish this the winch W is operated to effect pull on the cable 48, the dredge frame having first been blocked against forward movement as by lowering of the dipper against the ground. Continued pull on the cable 48 will therefore swing the levers 30 and 31 rearwardly past vertical and to rearwardly inclined position and. then the shoe structure will be bodily pulled to the front of the dredge frame (Fig. 4). The brake frame 53 having been released from the grpund, the

winch W is now operated in clockwise direction to exert forward pull on the brake wheel platform 79 and the levers 30 and 31 will be swung upwardly toward vertical and against the dredge frame to raise the rear end of this frame, and then as soon as the ground friction has been sufficiently overcome the dredge frame will travel rearwardly. After the dredge frame has been shifted the distance desired by repeated pro pulsion operations the bucket is raised from the ground and the brake structure 53 dropped and then the winch is operated to swing the levers 30 and 31 back to forwardly inclined position and to pull the shoe structure back to the front end of the dredge frame ready for forward propulsion thereof.

The dredge shown on the drawings is particularly adaptable for propulsion along the bottom of a ditch or channel after it has been dug .by the dredging mechanism although it is evident that the machine could be propelled on the ground alongside the ditch or passageway. Both the dredge frame and shoe structure are of light construction, the shoe structure being unitary and self-supporting on the ground and does not have to be carried by the dredge frame. Propulsion of the dredge frame can thus be very readily accomplished with light and simple power mechanism and strains and stresses are reduced to a minimum. The machine parts being of such light construction they can be readily transported from one job to another or can be very readily taken apart for shipment and quickly reassembled. There is very little waste movement or power as practically during all' movement of the jack mechanism work is being performed toward effecting raising and propulsion of the dredge frame. The shoe s ructure need be only heavy enough to anchor itself to the ground while the jack mechanism is brought into engagement with the dredge frame for thereafter the weight added to the shoe structure as the dredge frame is raised will so firmly anchor the shoe structure to the ground that movement thereof will be impossible during propulsion of the frame. Being of such simple and light construction the entire outfit can be inexpensively manufactured. v

I donot of course desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described as changes and modifications are no doubt possible which would still come within the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. Mechanism for propelling a heavy' frame along the ground comprlsing a shoe structure below said frame, jack mechanism on said shoe structure normally disengaged from said frame, means controllable onsaid frame for bringing said jack mechanism into engagement with said frame and for effecting operation of said jack mechanism to exert upward thrust on said frame to reduce the frictional engagement of said frame with the ground, and means for effecting bodily propulsion of said frame during such upward thrust.

2. Mechanism for propelling a heavy frame comprising a shoe structure, raising mechanism on said shoe structure, means for shifting said shoe structure and raising mechanism longitudinally to any position below said frame, means for then effecting operation of the raising mechanism to lift the frame, and means for then bodily shifting the frame relative to the shoe structure and raising mechanism.

3. Mechanism for propelling a heavy frame comprising jack mechanism mounted comprising ack mechanism mounted on the ground below said frame, and means on said frame operable to actuate the jack mechanism to partly raise the frame from the ground and then to bodily shift it along the jack mechanism when thus raised.

'5. Mechanism for shifting a heavy frame comprising jack mechanism mounted on the ground below said frame, rollers at the top of said jack mechanism, and means for actuating said jack mechanism to bring the rollers against the under side of said frame and to exert upward thrust against said frame to partly raise it and for then rolling said frame bodily on said rollers.

' Mechanism for hi ting a heavy frame comprising jack mechanism mounted on the ground, and means for actuating said jack mechanism to partly raise said frame and for then causing bodily shift of said frame along said jack mechanism.

7. Mechanism for shifting a heavy frame comprising a shoe structure below said frame, an inclined lever pivoted at its lower end on said structure and a head at the upper end of said lever, means for swinging said lever toward vertical to bring its head against the under side of said frame to exert upward thrust against the frame and lifting thereof, and means for bodily shifting said frame when thus raised.

8. Mechanism for shifting a heavy frame comprising inclined jack levers and a platform carried on the upper ends of said levers, means for swinging said levers .toward vertical whereby to bring said platform against said frame and to eXert upward thrust against said frame to partly raise it, and means for bodily shifting said frame along said platform when thus raised.

9. Mechanism for shifting a heavy frame comprising a shoe structure below said frame, a platform above said shoe structure, track rollers pivoted on top of said platform and rails on the under side of said frame, jack mechanism interposed between said shoe structure and platform, means for actuating said jack mechanism to elevate said platform to bring the track rollers against the rails and to then exert upward thrust to partly raise the frame, and means for bodily propelling the frame when thus raised.

10. Mechanism for shifting a heavy frame comprising a shoe structure on the ground below said frame, a platform between said shoe structure and frame, track rollers on the upper side of said platform and rails on the under side of said frame, inclined jack levers pivoted at their lower ends to said shoe structure and at their upper ends to said platform, and means operable on said dredge frame for swinging said jack 'levers toward vertical whereby to elevate the platform to bring its track rollers into engagement with the rails and then to eXert upward thrust to partly raise the frame, said means operating also to cause bodily propulsion of the dredge frame along said track rollers when said frame is raised.

11. Mechanism for shifting a heavy frame comprising a shoe structure movably resting on the ground below one end of said frame, a platform between said shoe structure and frame, inclined jack levers pivoted at their lower ends to the shoe structure and at their upper ends to said platform, winch mechanism on said frame, a pulley on said frame, a cable extending from said winch around said pulley and connecting with said levers, tension on said cable causing swing of said jack levers toward vertical to elevate said platform, means affording roller and track engagement between the platform and frame when said platform is raised, further pull on said cable then causing further swing of the levers toward vertical to effect lifting of the frame and bodily propulsion thereof over the shoe structure.

12. Mechanism for shifting a heavy frame comprising a shoe structure on the ground below said frame, a platform between said shoe structure and frame, track rollers on said platform and rails on the frame, inclined jack levers pivoted at their lower ends to the shoe structure and at their upper ends to the platform, a winch on the frame, a cable pulley at each end of the frame, a cable passing from said winch around one pulley and another cable passing from the winch about the other pulley, the ends of said cables being both connected to eifeet swing of the jack levers from inclined position toward vertical to thereby elevate the platform to bring its wheels in engagement with the rails and to then lift the frame, the passage of either cable around its respective pulley causing longitudinal thrust on said frame when said cable is pulled to operate the jack levers to raise the frame, said longitudinal thrust efiecting bodily propulsion of said frame as soon as said frame has been lifted to sufiiciently reduce its frictional engagement with the ground.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of December, A. D. 1915.

WILLIAR-D R. EWVING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

